The LSU School of Interior Design works with Louisiana healthcare facilities regularly, as part of the healthcare design curriculum in which students design facility improvements for local hospitals, partnering with the staff there to learn about their needs. So when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Louisiana in spring 2020, the students wanted to do something to say thank you to the many healthcare workers providing care to the community.

“Our students were interested in contributing to our local crisis. Sophomores during a design studio class suggested we send healthcare workers energy bars and thank you notes,” said Marsha Cuddeback, School of Interior Design director. Soon the school’s entire study body wanted to get involved, and two students who work at Highland Coffee suggested to purchase energy bars from the coffeeshop near campus to support a local business as well.

LSU staff safely delivered the thank you packages to Our Lady of the Lake and Ochsner hospitals to be distributed. Linda Lee at OLOL said, “tell the students how much all of the healthcare workers will appreciate the gift; it provides a ‘shot in the arm’ during these challenging times.”

BID student Noah Adams, wrote the note on behalf of the interior design students:

“How can we thank you? In this time of crisis as we face a global threat, we have all witnessed that it has not been the rich and famous to step up. It has been our healthcare and essential workers. Every one of you is working tirelessly, risking your own health, to help end this threat to our community. We cannot thank you enough.

We are the LSU School of Interior Design and we want to truly thank you for your hard work. We have included some Clif bars and Taos energy bars from our local Highland Coffee to show a small token of our gratitude. We hope you all grab one to help fuel your work.”

“I feel so fortunate to be a part of our amazing school with students who care deeply about our community and are anxious to help where there is need,” Cuddeback said.